History of the Papacy Podcast · History of the Papacy

Pope Leo XIV: An American Pope for the Fourth of July

·1 hr 9 min·4 clips

Greg expects Pope Leo XIV to stabilize Francis's reforms and build on Leo XIII.

Steve Guerra returns with a breaking papal story: Leo XIV has been elected. The fact that he is from Chicago gives the episode its immediate hook. Greg Gassman joins Guerra again, and the two settle into a history-first conversation. They do not treat the election like a simple headline. Instead, they pull back and place it inside the longer story of the Catholic church. The American angle is part of the hook, because it is tied to where Leo XIV came from and why people were talking about him so intensely. Much of the discussion is about where Leo XIV came from and why people were talking about him so intensely. The hosts keep the tone measured. They care more about explanation than performance. That becomes clear once the conversation turns to the Latin Mass. Guerra slows down on the shorthand, because the phrase gets used too loosely. He openly says that people who care about these issues will want the distinctions kept exact. It is not only about Latin versus the local language. The deeper issue is the shape of the liturgy itself. He notes that the post-Vatican II Mass could still be said in Latin. He also points out that the visible change in which direction the priest faced was one of the most noticeable shifts. Guerra says the Tridentine liturgy is beautiful. He thinks it should be preserved. The episode then widens into a broader historical claim. Major church councils usually bring long stretches of argument and adjustment. Seen that way, Vatican II is not an isolated disruption but part of the church's habit of living with reform.

As heard by us

Pope Leo XIV and Chicago frame a thoughtful discussion of Vatican II, the Latin Mass, and the complexity of liturgical change.

Pope Leo XIV, tied here to Chicago, sets the frame for a wider look at the papacy and its place in church history. Steve Guerra and Greg Gassman lean into that broader context instead of chasing reaction, which gives the discussion a steadier shape and keeps it on the long arc…

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Why you'd press play

You want the story of Pope Leo XIV, the Chicago-born new pope, alongside the liturgy debate that still stirs people.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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